Somaliland religious Community condemn Alshabaab attack In mogadisho

[Xaaji Xunjuf]

HARGEISA (Somalilandpress) – Somaliland prominent religious leaders have condemned recent bombings of Muna Hotel in Mogadishu. The militant group, Al-shabab has claimed responsibility of the attack. 31 people including six MPs were killed in the attack. During the Friday sermons, religious leaders around Somaliland condemned the attack and talked about how such violent attacks are far from Islamic teachings.

 

Sheikh Mohamed Ahmed Hassan— one of the most respected and popular religious leaders in Hargeisa, condemned the attack during the Friday sermon and he described Al-Shabab actions as crimes that need to be stopped.

 

It is a crime to kill a Muslim person during the holy month of Ramadan. This is not Islam. Islam does not call to kill innocent people. The religion of Islam is about peace, mercy and love. It is not a terrorist religion.

 

On Wednesday of this week 31 people were killed in suicide attack in Mogadishu. six of the victims were part of the Somali parliament. The militant group Al Shabaab claimed responsibility of the attack.

 

number of leading Imams in Hargeisa also denounced the attack.

 

Somalilandpress’ reporter Abdiqani Baynah talked to people on the street of Hargeisa about the Muna Hotel attack. Faysal Ahmed Muse, a businessman in Hargeisa expressed disgust and anger:

 

Al shabaab are murderers. They are not defending the religion. They are using children as suicide bombers. They give them liquor, which makes them absent-minded when the child is doing this kind of attacks. These kids are not fit mentally. During the holy month of Ramadan, it is forbidden to kill a Muslim person.

 

Muna Omar Jama who is a student at University of Hargeisa told our reporter that she is feeling sad for the innocent people who were killed in Mona Hotel.

 

“It is a sad situation. May Allah make Al shabaab realize that killing Muslims is forbidden in our religion.” she says.

 

Abdifatah Ahmed, another Hargiesa University student expressed anger and questioned Al-Shabab political savviness.

 

“It is something people do not do. If Al Shabab kill all the people, whom would they rule? What is their political objective?”

 

Although the Transitional Government in Somalia has implant the most elements of Islamic law and used the Sharia as the main source of legislations and constitution of the country, the extremist group Al-Shabab have refused to negotiate with the Somali government until all African Peace keepers are out of the country. The attack came after Al-Shabab fighters declared a “final” war against what they called “invaders and infidel” and attacked army barracks in several districts of Mogadishu on Monday.

 

Sheikh Ali Mohamoud Rage, al-Shabab’s spokesman, then said fighters were starting a new war against “invaders”, an apparent reference to the 6,000 African Union troops deployed in the country to support government forces.

 

Reported by Abdiqani Baynah in Hargeisa & edited by Isahaq Hashi Ahmed